Parent discussion boards are places where you can pop in daily, weekly, or whenever you have a free moment to tune into communal chatterboards where parents ‘meet’ online to discuss … everything and anything.

In our society mothers are often isolated – geographically or socially. We need to find an extended social support network. One such place is an online forum.

An online meeting place for open discussions about all sorts of topics, many cover the broad areas of:

Fertility Awareness, Pre-conception and Conception Forums

Pregnancy Forums

Birth Forums

Babies and toddlers Forums

All aspects of Parenting… Forums

All aspects of Life… Forums

Some are very general, others for more specific support. Some are communities set up by organisations, others by groups of interested parents.

Look over a few. Read a few threads. See if the questions and answers are in line with your own interests, values and needs. There are all sorts of people out there – there will be a community for you to fit in. You’ll need to register as a member to post messages, this is a free process involving creating a username and providing your email address then confirming in an email that arrives soon after.

There are even dedicated forums for Modern Cloth Nappy Enthusiasts!

Handy Tip: Create a username that is easy to remember and use the same one on every site, use the same password as well. Be friendly, gracious, helpful, respectful of difference. Have fun along the way sharing with other mothers at home with small childen feeling the same as you – needing some CHATTER. In time, you’ll get to know the other mothers, and perhaps find locals that you can arrange to meet up with IRL (in Real Life) at a coffee shop to find new friends!

Online Support Communities for parents in Australia:

I have removed the list as they change so frequently I can’t keep up with the broken links! Instead;

If you have a specific need for online support from other mothers in your situation, google it + forum.

Terms often used to describe forums and online communities in case you are looking for one specific to a need you have: Forum, Support Group, Chat Room, Social Group, Mums Group, Message Board, Discussion group, Online Support, Mums Help and Advice, Meeting Hub, Online Community, Network.